For me, writing this testimonial is a pleasure, and a way to publicly thank everyone at the BioHealth Computing Schools and the European Scientific Institute (ESI) for everything they have taught me, for their help and continuous support.

My case is somewhat special, since my recent interest in applying computing to health and biotechnology research, compelled me to change my career in business computing to this new and exciting field at the age of 45.

My experience as a student of the BioHealth Computer Master couldn't be more satisfying. During this exciting time I spent six months at the Universita Degli Studi di Torino, Turin, Italy, and another six months at the Universite Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France. As part of this Master, I also attended the ComMed and the IBD4Health schools, which really impressed me with their exceptional level of course materials and lecturers, but especially with how multidisciplinary and international they are. For me, they have become a networking pillar in my career, where I have established valuable professional contacts with very interesting and talented people and where I have been introduced to the scientific and health research environment.

On a personal note, the BioHealth schools allowed me to live a fantastic experience with other students coming from many different countries, cultures, and backgrounds. This experience started for many of us solid friendships and brought unforgettable moments that we all shared.

Overall, my time at BioHealth has changed in a very positive way both my life and my career. It provided a launchpad for me to recently join the European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) in Cambridge, UK. EMBL-EBI is a European leader in bioinformatics and genomic research and its resources and tools are used and referenced worldwide.

In my current role as a Bioinformatician, I am in touch with cutting-edge technologies in a fantastic environment and with a continuous evolution in the areas of bioinformatics and genomics. My time at BioHealth and the experience I’ve gained there have obviously contributed to me getting where I am today. For that, I will be forever grateful to all the staff, lecturers and colleagues, who made this possible for me.

If you are thinking in applying for any of the BioHealth Schools, just open your mind to innovation, get ready to work hard and enjoy the experience.